See Special Edition of TOPICS

    On Thursday, a special edition of TOPICS will address Hospital Authority questions including information on PTO, (paid time off).

Graduating Medical Student Earns KU School of Medicine's
First Perseverance Award for Overcoming Adversity

    When Merrill Stanley's name was called at the 1998 University of Kansas School of Medicine hooding ceremony, his classmates responded with thunderous applause and a standing ovation.
    Stanley received the Perseverance Award, the first but probably not last time the award will be given to a graduating medical student.
    "I was just bowled over by the reaction," said Olan Barclay, sponsor of the award and an Overland Park native. Barclay has been a friend of the Stanley family since before Merrill Stanley was born. He has watched as Stanley grew up and knew the obstacles Stanley faced on the path that would eventually lead him through medical school.
    After high school, marriage, and a variety of jobs, Stanley entered the U.S. Air Force were he remained for the next eight years. It was there that he developed the discipline that has served him well.
    Once out of the Air Force, he completed his undergraduate degree at Avila College, Kansas City, Mo, while affiliated with the Air National Guard and entered medical school.
    Less than a week after first-year classes began, Stanley's mother, an elementary school teacher, died from breast cancer. She had been a teacher for about four decades the last 28 years at Roseland Elementary School in the Shawnee Mission School District.
    Almost two years later, in April 1996, Stanley was diagnosed with lymphoma. He managed to continue his medical education and raise his family while going through chemotherapy, spinal surgery and radiation.
    Coping with a life-threatening illness while dealing with the pressures of medical school wasn't easy, but it did provide Stanley with a goal. "It helps greatly to have something to get up and do every day," he said. Completing medical school was his goal.
    There were times when the focus on that goal wavered. At those times friend and classmate David Galbreath helped Merrill. "There were times I was ready to give up, but Dave was there to tell me, 'All it is is one more day ... just one more day,'" said Stanley.
    Eventually, the lymphoma went into remission and Stanley was able to complete his medical education. Then another obstacle presented itself. In January 1998, he received word that the Air Force was terminating his military scholarship because of his medical history. Stanley is appealing that decision through the Surgeon General of the U.S. Air Force.
    With his medical degree completed, Stanley began his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at KU Medical Center in July. He had once planned to return to the Air Force, but now hopes to go into private practice in Wyoming. His uncle, Leland Stanley, a 1960 School of Medicine graduate, has a medical practice there and has been the inspiration for Stanley to enter medicine.
    While the Perseverance Award came as a surprise to Stanley, he remains humble about his accomplishments. "I think people rise to the occasion and do what they are capable of doing," he said.

Historic Event as Hospital Authority Meets

Members of the Authority Board:
back row, l to r: Donald F. Hagen, MD, Sen. Sherman Jones, Ed Chapman, Mark Parkinson, H. William Barkman, MD, Dorothy Lynch, Bill Docking.

front row, l to r: Sylvia Robinson, Deborah Powell, MD, Robert Hemenway, Chairman of the Board, Irene Cumming, hospital President and Chief Executive Officer, George Farha, MD, Vice Chairman, Sen. Sandy Praeger, and Karen L. Miller, RN, PhD.

Around KUMC

Employees Savings Bond Campaign Under Way
    The Annual State Employee Savings Bond Campaign has begun. Employees are encouraged to consider purchasing savings bonds through payroll deduction as a way to build personal savings, and at the same time support our Federal Government. You can buy $100, $200, $500, $1,000, $5,000, or $10,000 bonds and pay through deductions as low as $5 per paycheck. The purchase price of a bond is half of the face value.
    Interest on bonds is exempt from state and local income taxes, and federal tax is deferred until the bond is redeemed. If you meet certain income criteria, bonds also can provide special tax advantages when paying expenses related to your children's higher education.
    For more information about bonds and enrollment in the payroll purchase plan, contact the Benefits Office, 1040 Wescoe, ext. 5087 or 5263.


School and Sports Physicals
    Physicians and staff from the University of Kansas Medical Center will offer free sports and school physicals on Saturday, Aug. 1, Monday, Aug. 3 and Tuesday, Aug. 4 at two locations in Johnson County. A limited number of appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis for people with children in the Shawnee Mission School District. For more information, call the KUMC physician referral service at ext. 1227.


Human Resources Offers Two Classes
    The Human Resources Department will present "Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Work Place" from 9a.m. to noon, Wednesday, August 12. The program provides practical guidelines for recognizing, preventing, and resolving incidents of sexual harassment.
    On Wednesday, Aug 5, from 2-3:30 p.m. the Human Resources Department and the University Police Department will present "Preventing Violence in the Work Place" The training provides practical, common sense tools and strategies for recognizing and preventing incidents of violence.
    For more information or to enroll, call ext. 5089.


Susan Pingleton Named Consultant

    Susan Pingleton, MD, has been appointed to be a consultant to the Executive Team during the hospital transition to the Public Authority. Dr. Pingleton will lead the hospital's medical directors, participating in planning, and advising the executive team on operational issues and clinical quality concerns.
    Dr. Pingleton is professor of internal medicine and division director of pulmonry medicine at KU Medical Center, where she completed her medical degree, her residency and her fellowship. In addition to being board certified in internal medicine, Dr. Pingleton is certified in critical care and pulmonary disease.


Race for cure Registration Deadline Aug. 1
    Aug. 1 is the deadline for early registration for the annual Race for the Cure, the annual run/walk to raise money to battle breast cancer. The Kansas Cancer Institute and KU Cancer Center, which have jointly entered this year's race, will have an on-site booth and promotional materials in participant packets on race day. The race is Sunday, Aug. 9, at Town Center Plaza, 119th and Nall. Registration forms are available at the KCI reception desk in 4030 Robinson or the KCI Development Office in 5002 Robinson. The entry fee before Aug. 1 is $15.00. The entry fee between Aug. 1 and Aug. 8 is $20, and race-day entry fee on Aug. 9 is $30. Kirmayer launches membership campaign, Offers karate classes
    Current members of Kirmayer Fitness Center who recruit a new member can enter the summer membership drawing for a trip for two to Chicago, all expenses paid except meals and entertainment. The second place prize is a one-hour massage and third place is a half-hour massage.
    Make sure you have your new member fill out the membership promotion ticket with your name on it when they join. The winner is chosen by the "luck of the draw" rather than on the number of new members you recruit. However, the more new members you recruit the better your chances of winning.
    In other news, Kirmayer has set up karate classes that combine Chung do Kwan Tae Kwan Do and Yonsei Goju Karate. The sessions are set up on a pay-per-month basis. A new session begins on the first of each month. Classes are 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Register at the Kirmayer Administrative Office.


Book Fair raises funds for Community Internship Program
    The Department of Student Services is pleased to sponsor a book fair August 5, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., August 6 & 7 in the Wyandotte room in the main cafeteria. Save up to 75% on quality hardcover books. General interest, sports, cookbooks, children's selections and other popular titles will be available. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Community Internship Program. For more information, contact ext. 6681. KU brings nationally known speakers in For special psychiatric training program
    Nationally renowned psychiatric rehabilitation experts Mary Moller, MSN, ARNP, and Millene Freeman Murphy, PhD, APRN, are on campus this week and next week to lead psychiatric health care providers across Kansas City in a special training program. The speakers are giving certification training in psychiatric rehabilitation to psychiatric nurses, interdisciplinary psychiatric rehabilitation professionals and advanced practice registered nurses throughout the city.
    Moller is chief executive officer of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Nurses, Inc., administrator of the Suncrest Wellness Center and adjunct instructor of nursing at Washington State and Gonzaga Universities, Spokane, Wa. She received the 1994 Award for Clinical Excellence from the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and the 1996 Professional of the Year Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Murphy is president of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Nurses, Inc., and president of Wellness Consultation & Education, Inc., Richfield, UT.

Donald Hagen, EVC

Play Ball! Those are the words I love to hear. Friday, I’m came in early and went home late as I cheered on our home team at KU Night at the KC Royals. This was our largest employee outing yet with more
than 1,300 of us enjoying a night at the ballpark. Our tailgate dinner began at 5 p.m., and the game began at 7:05 p.m. I looked forward to Jon Jackson's first major league appearance as he threw out the first pitch. Elwanda Richardson sang our National Anthem, and our KU kids led the Youth Parade around the field as part of the opening festivities. Everyone was glad to stay late for the after-game concert. You demonstrated your KU pride by wearing KUMC T-shirts or anything red or blue.

The results of our recent child care study were presented to our Executive Council this week. Your responses show that childcare is a very important concern whether you're an employee or student. If you have children, you're concerned that they are well cared for while your working or studying. If you're a supervisor, you're concerned that your employees and students can focus on their tasks and not worry about the children. This is an issue affecting all of us. So, I've assembled a task force to recommend some options to us based on your feedback and other data. I hope to have their comments within 60 days.

I'm a member of the Mid-America Coalition on Health Care. This organization is lead by community leaders in business, education, government and the private sector. We come together to study and recommend ways to improve the health of our employees. Right now one of our primary issues deals with modifiable health risk behaviors. We're focusing on issues of employee privacy, cost reductions and appropriate incentives to improve health. Other issues we've agreed to study include organ allocation, greater patient participation in medical testing, and the high costs of prescription drugs. Our faculty can make significant contributions to this group's work. Our knowledge of employee health and treatment outcomes can help employers and employees make wiser decisions about health insurance policies and national health care issues. If you are invited to contribute to one of the Coalition's studies, I hope you will. You'll help KU be positioned as a leader in the community.

This week, I start my vacation. I'll be staying close to home, and will come to the campus for several critical meetings. My mother and daughters will be arriving for a short visit. I'm looking forward to some special time with each of them. From the automatic e-mail responses to my weekly messages, I know many are enjoying vacations also. I hope you will plan some special time with your loved ones this weekend. Whether you spent it with your co-workers at the Royals game, gardening or some other activity, consciously treasure the moments. You'll feel better. You'll have more patience and compassion for others. Come back ready to tackle the things you can do to make KUMC a great place.

Classifieds

Automotive

For Sale: 1989 Nissan Sentra, w/gray interior. AC, Sunroof, Am/FM Stereo Cassette, 116,000 miles, runs good, Must Sell, $1,500 OBO. Call Andre 789-8328.

For Sale: 1986 Chevy Astro minivan. Runs great. $2,500. Call Bonnie at 287-2502 after 5.

For Sale: Ford Escort, 1993 LX. Brand new tires, struts, and springs. Air conditioning, AM/FM stereo, cruise control and runs very well. Call 432-7155 after 5 p.m.

For Sale 1985 Yamaha Maxim X, 5 valve, very sharp, low mileage. Asking $3,500.00. Call 551-5472. Leave message if no answer.

For Sale

For Sale: Brand new Nurse Mates women's shoes, never worn. Size 6M. Less than half price at $30! Call Lynelle, 383-0487.

For sale: Solid wood breakfast table (diameter 42") with four wood chairs. In excellent condition, $150.00 or reasonable offer. New Huffy 12-speed mountain bike, $125. Fuji Royale II 12-speed racing bike, $175. Call Jaz, 262-6379.

For Sale: Black, full-size metal futon, less than a year old, $150. Two twin-sized beds, $100. Call 432-7155 after 5 p.m.

For Sale: Window A/C unit, Kenmore, 13.5 BTU, 5 years old, good condition, $250. Antique, hump-backed trunk; good condition, $150. Call 432-5251 after 5 p.m.

For Sale: 6x12x6 dogpen and metal doghouse with concrete blocks, $125. Couch with hideabed, $30. Call 246-1436
For Sale: Smith Coroana PWP w/12” screen, saves to 3.5” floppy, like new, $100. New black computer deskw/room for all accessories, $40. Call 362-1407 leave message.

For Rent

For rent: 2 bedroom, central air, off-street parking, located in KCKS. No pets. $200 deposit, $350 per month. Call 342-0599.

For Rent: Large house furnished with all but bedroom. Within walking distance to KUMC. Quiet employee needs roommate to share expenses. No smokers, please. Call 772-0226.

Receptions

Gayle Antle
Patient Financial Services regretfully announces the retirment of Gayle Antle. He has been with KUMC for 10 years. Please join us for his party 3 to 4 p.m. July 31 in the cafeteria of the Support Services Building.

Pets

Free to good home: Female Siamese Cat, declawed and spayed, 4 years old, good personality. Female Calico Cat, 10 months old, very loving and affectionate, not spayed or declawed, shots are updated. Call Kevin 318-0428

Study Subjects

Neurolepetic Study for People with Developmental Disabilities
Research participants for a medication trial between the ages of 6 and 65, who are diagnosied with mental retardation, and who exhibit behavior problems (including agression, self-injury, and property destruction), are needed Caregivers must be willing to complete questionnaires on a weekly basis and come in for a 30 minute appointment every other week. All evaluations, appointments, lab tests, and medications are free of charge. For families living outside the Kansas City area, $25 will be provided to cover travel and parking costs. To receive more information about this study please contact Dr. Jennifer Zarcone at KU Medical Center (913) 588-6473, or at jzarcone@dole.lsi.ukans.edu

Topics Information
Topics is the employee publication of the University of Kansas Medical Center.
It is published weekly by the office of Public Relations and Marketing. The deadline for submitting news briefs for consideration is noon on the Wednesday before they are to appear. For longer articles or features, contact the editor in advance.
Send story ideas to Leslie Champlin, acting editor, G114 Hospital, or e-mail: lchampli@ kumc.edu or call ext. 1602

Topics ad policy
Send or bring your ad to Topics, G114 KU Hospital, or fax to ext. 1225, or e-mail: lchampli@kumc.edu by noon Wednesday of the week before it is to run.
Ads run free of charge for employees, students and volunteers. For-sale ads are limited to three items. All ads must include the advertiser’s name and work extension (or medical student box number) for verification.
Only home phone numbers --- no pager numbers or KUMC extensions --- will be published. No ads for commercial services or pets for sale will be accepted. Ads will not be taken by telephone. Only one phone number per ad.
Ads may be a held a week if space is limited.

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